Scram signal generator
Abstract
A scram signal generating circuit for nuclear reactor installations monitors a flow signal representing the flow rate of the liquid sodium coolant which is circulated through the reactor, and initiates reactor shutdown for a rapid variation in the flow signal, indicative of fuel motion. The scram signal generating circuit includes a long-term drift compensation circuit which processes the flow signal and generates an output signal representing the flow rate of the coolant. The output signal remains substantially unchanged for small variations in the flow signal, attributable to long term drift in the flow rate, but a rapid change in the flow signal, indicative of a fast flow variation, causes a corresponding change in the output signal. A comparator circuit compares the output signal with a reference signal, representing a given percentage of the steady state flow rate of the coolant, and generates a scram signal to initiate reactor shutdown when the output signal equals the reference signal.
- Inventors:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5670698
- Assignee:
- TIC; ERA-05-018887; EDB-80-049474
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; ALARM SYSTEMS; MOTION; NUCLEAR FUELS; SCRAM; AMPLIFIERS; COOLANTS; DESIGN; FLOW RATE; FLOWMETERS; LOGIC CIRCUITS; MONITORING; REACTOR SHUTDOWN; SIGNALS; SODIUM; ALKALI METALS; ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS; ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT; ELEMENTS; ENERGY SOURCES; FUELS; MATERIALS; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; METALS; REACTOR MATERIALS; SHUTDOWNS; 220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety; 440300 - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)
Citation Formats
Johanson, E W, and Simms, R. Scram signal generator. United States: N. p.,
Web.
Johanson, E W, & Simms, R. Scram signal generator. United States.
Johanson, E W, and Simms, R. .
"Scram signal generator". United States.
@article{osti_5670698,
title = {Scram signal generator},
author = {Johanson, E W and Simms, R},
abstractNote = {A scram signal generating circuit for nuclear reactor installations monitors a flow signal representing the flow rate of the liquid sodium coolant which is circulated through the reactor, and initiates reactor shutdown for a rapid variation in the flow signal, indicative of fuel motion. The scram signal generating circuit includes a long-term drift compensation circuit which processes the flow signal and generates an output signal representing the flow rate of the coolant. The output signal remains substantially unchanged for small variations in the flow signal, attributable to long term drift in the flow rate, but a rapid change in the flow signal, indicative of a fast flow variation, causes a corresponding change in the output signal. A comparator circuit compares the output signal with a reference signal, representing a given percentage of the steady state flow rate of the coolant, and generates a scram signal to initiate reactor shutdown when the output signal equals the reference signal.},
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place = {United States},
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}